Resident Assistant (RA) Gavin Dudley, pictured alongside Adam Hudson and Gilardo Castillo, are in the process of starting Saint Xavier’s first official chess club, called Checkmate! Speaking with Dudley, Hudson, and their treasurer Gilardo Castillo, I was able to get some insight into their plans for the club, as well as their personal histories with the game.
Dudley learned the game from his family, playing matches with his father and grandfather during spring break of his freshman year in high school. From there, he fell in love with the game, though life made him too busy to keep up the hobby.
Likewise, Hudson was taught the game very young and grew up playing chess with his family. In the past, he had started an unofficial chess club, gathering members to play in his former college. Now he hopes to foster a similar community here at SXU.
Castillo is a recent player, who has spent the last year learning the game in order to enact revenge on a friend who beat him. Since then, he’s become a respectable player, who grabbed Hudson’s attention as he studied the game, and came to be involved with the growing chess community. He was soon offered a position on the club’s executive board, which he was happy to accept, and is now looking forward to participating in matches, as well as teaching players competitive strategies.
Dudley and Hudson met through mutual friends and bonded over their shared interest in chess. Last year, Adam and Gavin would play matches in the diner, drawing a crowd of spectators and eager participants. As the community around them grew, they decided to start Checkmate as a way to organize the group that had grown and to better share their love of the game.
Unfortunately, toward the end of last school year, some problems in Hudson’s personal life delayed Checkmate’s creation, but now he and Dudley are ready to finalize their plans and launch the club.
Dudley will serve as the club’s president, with Hudson acting as his vice president. Other members of the executive board will include Castillo as treasurer, and Cristian Flores as the club’s secretary.
Of chess itself, Dudley and Hudson both expressed a great appreciation for the skills it teaches. They both believe that the skills chess teaches in decision-making and strategy are invaluable, and according to Hudson, “What happens on the board, you take it with you.”
Of the club, Dudley stated that he wants to create a space for casual and competitive players alike. The club is open to all levels of chess experience, whether it be skilled players with plenty of history or newcomers who want to learn the rules of the game. Castillo and Hudson will also be offering lessons on strategies and the basics of the game, in order to help members move up in expertise.
The club’s formation has been smooth for the group. It took four days for the RSO to be approved, and Checkmate already has a healthy size of 18 members. They have been given $200 to start the club, and are now deciding what the money will go toward, beyond the necessary boards and pieces. Castillo commented that some additional fundraising may be needed for timers, shirts, boards, and any other expenses the club incurs.
Dudley made it a point in our interview to emphasize that this club is for everyone who is interested. He says that there is “no bias” and that “No question is stupid, no move is stupid.” The chess club is a safe space, and no one will be denied entry due to any prejudice.
The first meeting of the chess club will be held on Thursday, October 12th. The club will meet every Tuesday and Thursday, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Wiseman Lounge. Currently, the executive board is still hashing out the details, such as where the club will meet. If you’re interested in joining the club, you can look up “Checkmate” on The Den in order to sign up!
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